Vanuatu getting 'market ready' for growth of tourism from China

Vanuatu getting 'market ready' for growth of tourism from China

Port Vila, Monday, 1 April 2019 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Governments of Vanuatu and China officially today celebrated 2019 as the China Pacific Tourism Year with congratulatory remarks announced by the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Bob Weibur Loughman and the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu, His Excellency Zhou Haicheng.

The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) and partners the Chinese Embassy of Vanuatu, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) undertook the inaugural activity of the 2019 China Pacific Tourism Year today at the Holiday Inn in Port Vila.

A tourism industry workshop was also held to present the joint marketing plans of the VTO and the IFC to aid tourism stakeholders' understanding and readiness for the China tourism market.

The workshop provided valuable insight on digital marketing trends that will help ensure that Vanuatu's tourism products and experiences are 'China ready'.

Also attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu, His Excellency Zhou Haicheng, the workshop demonstrates the partnership, friendships and unity that exists as all stakeholders work together to grow high value visitation to Vanuatu, and the Pacific more broadly.

China is identified in the VTO's 2030 Market Development Plan, with dedicated but very deliberate strategies to grow high value tourism from the large Chinese outbound tourism market.

“We believe the Chinese travellers who will most enjoy the Vanuatu experience are those experienced travellers who enjoy challenging themselves in adventure destinations. There is an increasing number of Chinese travellers who also enjoy diving, and we all know Vanuatu provides some of the best experiences in the world. Obviously our key attractions like Mt Yasur on Tanna will also benefit greatly from an increase in Chinese visitors”, said the VTO CEO, Ms Adela Issachar Aru.

“We have been working with the IFC for the past four years on China tourism market readiness and we are getting increasingly knowledgeable on how we will position Vanuatu into the future, and what experiences will most appeal to Chinese tourists”, said Ms Aru.

“These workshops and education about Chinese consumers, such as the one we are holding today, are part of the SPTO's China Pacific Tourism Year initiative", she said.

"From Vanuatu's perspective, we are keen to see this as a year of action and increased growth in visitation to Vanuatu from the China market".

“Similar launches are being held around the Pacific today, and we are excited to be part of this development”, said Ms Aru.